Shredder

ABSTRACT

A leaf shredder with a motor, hopper, shredding top wall and side wall hinged to a wheeled bottom wall to allow exposure of shredding knives and cooperating elements for inspection.

United States Patent 1 91 11] 3,716,198 Lautzenheiser 1 .Feb. 13, 1973 [s41 SHREDDER [56] References cm [75] Inventor: Robert D. Lauwenheiser, Bluffton, UNITED STATES PATENTS lnd.

3,412,770 11/1968 Johnson ..241/101MX g The Red Cross Manufacturmg p- 3,527,278 9/1970 Johnson, Jr. ..241/101 M x 22 F A l 1 197 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. [2]] Appl. No.: 132,657 Attorney-Mann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway 52 US. Cl ..241/188 R, 241/101 M [57] I ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..B02c 18/06 A leaf shredder with a motor, hopper, shredding top [58] Field of Search ..24l/10l H, 188 R wall and side wall hinged to a wheeled bottom wall to allow exposure of shredding knives and cooperating elements for inspection.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SIIREDDER The present invention is directedto improvements in shredding machines and is particularly directed to shredders which are especially designed for comminuting leaves, twigs and the like.

My copending application, Ser. No. 7l,425, filed Sept. 11, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,930, issued July 20, 197i, illustrates shredding machines of this class utilizing motor driven knives which rotate about a vertical axis and which pass through spaces between stationary breaker bars for the purpose of comminuting material. Shredders made in accordance with the previous application utilize a motor carried by a top plate of a shredding compartment. The top plate, motor and knives are removable from the remainder of the shredding compartment for purposes of cleaning, replacement of parts, or repair. The motor and top plate assembly must be bodily lifted from the remainder of the shredding housing for such purposes. Furthermore, care must be taken to insure that the shredding knives are not positioned within the spaces between breaker bars; otherwise the motor and cover plate cannot be removed. If material is wedged between the shredding knives and breaker bars to the extent that the motor shaft cannot be rotated easily, it is difficult to remove the motor and cover plate and also difficult to dislodge such material. Furthermore, when the motor. and cover plate are replaced in position on the shredding compartment, care must be taken to insure that the blades are properly positioned within the shredding housing so that, upon rotation, the blades properly interact with the breaker bars.

With the foregoing in mind, the purposes of the present invention are to form shredding machines of the general style aforementioned but in such a way that the motor, top plate, knives and breaker bars are arranged as a unitary assembly and connected with a base for simple swinging movement toward and away from the base to expose the shredding blades and breaker bars for cleaning, replacement, or repair; to so arrange such an assembly that material is easily dislodged from the shredding compartment, and to arrange a shredding machine of this class in such a manner that the shredding knives remain in proper position with relation to the breaker bars during cleaning, replacement and repair.

These and other purposes of the invention will become more apparent in the course of the ensuing specification and claims when taken with the accornpanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shredding machine incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the shredding machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shredding machine illustrated in FIG. 1 with the shredding knives and breaker bars in an exposed cleaning or inspection position;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the machine as illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of the machine illustrated in FIGS. l-4 while illustrating a fastening element.

Like elements are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawings, and in the first instance to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a shredding housing of the general class disclosed in my aforesaid copending application. The interior of the housing forms a shredding chamber. Housing 10 is supported for ground traversing movement upon a pair of wheels 11 which are rotatably mounted on an axle fixed to a lower portion of the housing. A supporting stand 12 is fixed to, and depends from, a side of the housing 10 remote from the wheels 11 so that the housing may be supported on the ground by the wheels 11 and stand 12. A drive motor 13, which may conveniently take the form of a lawn mower type of gasoline engine having a vertical output shaft, is supported on the upper part of housing 10. A feed hopper generally designated at 14 is supported on housing 10 and includes a generally rectangular opening 15 in the top thereof. Feed hopper 14 is formed with walls 16 which define a generally vertically disposed and downwardly open feed spout, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined lower wall 17 which extends over the motor 13. A lid or cover 18 is hinged to the upper rear wall of the hopper to partially overlie the opening to the hopper.

The lid 18 is adapted to be held in a selected angular position relative to the top wall as disclosed in the aforementioned application.

I-Iopper 14 is fixed to the shredding housing by suitable means. It may be removably attached by means of bolts.

In accordance with the invention, the housing 10 is defined by a top wall 10a to which motor 13 is affixed, a bottom wall 10b which carries the axle 19 for wheels 11, and the stand 12, and a side wall which is affixed to and depends from top wall 10a. The forward part of the side wall 10c is formed as a semicircle, when viewed in plan, about the axis of the motor shaft. Top wall 10a and bottom wall 10b have matching configurations. Bottom wall 10b includes an upstanding flange 20 formed as a protective rim around a margin of the bottom wall. The lower part of side wall 100 is adapted to nest within this rim.

Top wall 10a has spaced partitions 21 and 22 affixed thereto and depending therefrom at the rear portion of the top wall. These partitions define an inlet to the shredding housing in the space between the partitions as described in my aforesaid copending application. The outlet through the hopper chute 16 overlies this space. A plate 23 spans these partitions and extends downwardly from the hopper in an inclined relation. An outlet 0 from the shredding housing is defined by one partition 21 and the rearwardly extending portion of one side wall at 24. The inlet and outlet are thus positioned alongside of one another.

As described in my aforesaid copending application, vertically spaced shredding knives 25, 26 and 27 are carried by the motor shaft 28 and adapted to be rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 so as to propel material fed through the inlet around the shredding housing and out through the outlet 0. The shredding knives are adapted to pass through spaces defined by breaker bars affixed to the top wall of the housing. For example, each partition 21 and 22 may extend into the are developed by the blades during rotation thereof and have slots S formed in the forward portions thereof.

The blades pass through these slots, as seen in FIG. 3 and as described in may copending application. Additional breaker bars with slots for passage of the blades therethrough are designated at 29 and 30. These are fixed to the side wall c.

In further accordance with the invention, hopper 14, top wall 10a, side wall 10c and motor 13 are fixed together for unitary movement about the axis of a hinge or pivot rod 31 which is carried by spaced flanges 32 and 33 which are fixed to the bottom wall 10b. The pivot 31 is passed through the rearward ends of the partitions 21 and 22 to allow swinging movement of the housing side wall, top wall, motor, hopper, shredding knives and breaker bar structure unitarily from an operative position illustrated in FIG. 1 to an inspection and cleaning position illustrated in FIG. 3. This is 90 or more away from the base or bottom wall 10b. A 90 position is illustrated in FIG. 2. In practice the rear wall of hopper 14 will rest on the ground which will dispose the housing about 105 degrees from the operative position.

In the operative position illustrated in FIG. 1, a bolt 34 which is carried by the forward end of the side wall is received within a slotted lug 35 carried at the forward end of bottom wall 10b. A lock nut 36 is threaded on the bolt to fix the assembly in the operative position.

It should be noted that the cylinder C of engine 13 is positioned along a fore and aft line and extended forwardly from the motor shaft when in the operative position of FIG. 1. Thus, when the unitary assembly is swung to the position of FIG. 3 the crank case is positioned downwardly relative to the cylinder, thus avoiding fouling of plugs.

By virtue of the arrangement disclosed, the assembled hopper, engine, top wall and side walls are easily swung to an inspection position for cleaning and/or repair by simply loosening nut 36 and then tilting the assembly to the position of FIG. 3. This exposes the entire shredding space within the compartment as is seen in FIG. 4. Since the breaker bars and shredding knives are carried unitarily with the top wall, they are maintained in their proper operative position during the inspection operation If the blades are stuck with material within the breaker bars, the obstruction can be removed easily in the inspection position. The blades are easily removable for sharpening or replacement.

Iclaim:

l. A shredding machine including a wheel supported base, means defining a shredding housing with said base forming a bottom wall of said housing, said means including a side wall cooperative with said base in upstanding relation thereto and a top wall overlying said side wall, a drive motor positioned on said top wall and having a drive shaft extending through said top wall, shredding knives carried by said drive shaft and positioned in the space defined by said top wall and side wall above said base, said drive shaft having its outer end positioned above said base, a feed hopper carried by said top wall and adapted to feed material through an opening in said top wall to said shredding compartment, said top wall and motor being unitarily connected together and hingedly connected to said base at one end portion thereof, and breaker bars carried unitarily with said top wall, said breaker bars having vertically spaced spaces therein positioned to allow said shredding knives to pass through said spaces during rotation of said knives, said motor, top wall, shaft,knives and breaker bars being mounted for unitary movement between an operative position overlying said base and an inspection position in upstanding relation to said base, said knives, breaker bars and drive shaft being exposed and facing the space above said base in said inspection position, and means fixing said walls together in said operative position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said side wall is fixed to said top wall for unitary movement therewith during said swinging movement.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said base includes an upstanding marginal rim and said side wall is adapted to fit within said rim in said operative position.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said breaker bars are positioned on opposite sides of said inlet and an outlet from said shredding compartment is defined between one set of breaker bars and one side of said side wall.

5. A shredding machine including a housing defining a partially circular shredding space, rotatable shredding means within said space, said shredding means being defined by breaker bars carried by said housing and at least one shredding knife carried by said motor, a motor on said housing for driving said shredding'means about an axis generally coaxial with the center of said circular space, said housing having an upwardly open inlet and a laterally open outlet positioned side by said and adjacent the outer are developed by said shredding means during rotation thereof, a feed hopper positioned over said inlet, said inlet having a rear wall inclined downwardly and forwardly toward said space, said housing being defined by a wheel supported base, a side wall cooperable with said base and a top wall overlying said side wall, said motor being mounted on said top wall, means fixing said side wall, top wall, motor, breaker bars, knife and hopper together as a unit, and means hinging the unit so defined to said base for swinging movement from an operative position overlying said base to a position in upstanding relation to said base.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said drive motor is an internal combustion engine with the cylinder generally horizontal in the operative position and positioned to one side of said shaft opposite from said hopper.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said drive motor is an internal combustion engine with the cylinder generally horizontal in the operative position and positioned to one side of said shaft opposite from said hopper. 

1. A shredding machine including a wheel supported base, means defining a shredding housing with said base forming a bottom wall of said housing, said means including a side wall cooperative with said base in upstanding relation thereto and a top wall overlying said side wall, a drive motor positioned on said top wall and having a drive shaft extending through said top wall, shredding knives carried by said drive shaft and positioned in the space defined by said top wall and side wall above said base, said drive shaft having its outer end positioned above said base, a feed hopper carried by said top wall and adapted to feed material through an opening in said top wall to said shredding compartment, said top wall and motor being unitarily connected together and hingedly connected to said base at one end portion thereof, and breaker bars carried unitarily with said top wall, said breaker bars having vertically spaced spaces therein positioned to allow said shredding knives to pass through said spaces during rotation of said knives, said motor, top wall, shaft,knives and breaker bars being mounted for unitary movement between an operative position overlying said base and an inspection position in upstanding relation to said base, said knives, breaker bars and drive shaft being exposed and facing the space above said base in said inspection position, and means fixing said walls together in said operative position.
 1. A shredding machine including a wheel supported base, means defining a shredding housing with said base forming a bottom wall of said housing, said means including a side wall cooperative with said base in upstanding relation thereto and a top wall overlying said side wall, a drive motor positioned on said top wall and having a drive shaft extending through said top wall, shredding knives carried by said drive shaft and positioned in the space defined by said top wall and side wall above said base, said drive shaft having its outer end positioned above said base, a feed hopper carried by said top wall and adapted to feed material through an opening in said top wall to said shredding compartment, said top wall and motor being unitarily connected together and hingedly connected to said base at one end portion thereof, and breaker bars carried unitarily with said top wall, said breaker bars having vertically spaced spaces therein positioned to allow said shredding knives to pass through said spaces during rotation of said knives, said motor, top wall, shaft,knives and breaker bars being mounted for unitary movement between an operative position overlying said base and an inspection position in upstanding relation to said base, said knives, breaker bars and drive shaft being exposed and facing the space above said base in said inspection position, and means fixing said walls together in said operative position.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said side wall is fixed to said top wall for unitary movement therewith during said swinging movement.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said base includes an upstanding marginal rim and said side wall is adapted to fit within said rim in said operative position.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said breaker bars are positioned on opposite sides of said inlet and an outlet from said shredding compartment is defined between one set of breaker bars and one side of said side wall.
 5. A shredding machine including a housing defining a partially circular shredding space, rotatable shredding means within said space, said shredding means being defined by breaker bars carried by said housing and at least one shredding knife carried by said motor, a motor on said housing for driving said shredding means about an axis generally coaxial with the center of said circular space, said housing having an upwardly open inlet and a laterally open outlet positioned side by said and adjacent the outer arc developed by said shredding means during rotation thereof, a feed hopper positioned over said inlet, said inlet having a rear wall inclined downwardly and forwardly toward said space, said housing being defined by a wheel supported base, a side wall cooperable with said base and a top wall overlying said side wall, said motor being mounted on said top wall, means fixing said side wall, top wall, motor, breaker bars, knife and hopper together as a unit, and means hinging the unit so defined to said base for swinging movement from an operative position overlying said base to a position in upstanding relation to said base.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said drive motor is an internal combustion engine with the cylinder generally horizontal in the operative position and positioned to one side of said shaft opposite from said hopper. 